Benjamin Lawrence

The Milky Way

2011-08-26T13:36:00.000-04:00

Tempest Milky Way from Randy Halverson on Vimeo.

Deja Vu

2011-08-23T12:50:00.004-04:00

https://tv.rockstargames.com/videos/view/id/C660B237AFA60684

Kenk

2010-06-03T09:14:00.001-04:00

KENK Animation Director Craig Small from Pop Sandbox on Vimeo.

America's Road to Health Care

2010-04-14T11:20:00.001-04:00

It may have been fraught with all kinds of political dealings, but he gotter' done!

The Art of David Lynch

2010-03-23T10:14:00.001-04:00

2010-02-03T13:43:00.002-05:00

EMBED-How To Report The News - Watch more free videos

Neil Young

2010-01-15T10:35:00.002-05:00

Laugh or Cry- Sarah Palin Book Signing

2009-11-26T16:09:00.003-05:00

On Media Bias

2009-09-18T09:22:00.000-04:00

"The journalist's job is not to achieve some mythical state of equilibrium between two opposing opinions out of some misshapen respect — sometimes, alas, reverence — for the prevailing consensus among the powers-that-be. The journalist's job is to seek out and offer the public the best thinking on an issue, event, or story."

-Bill Moyers

2009-06-11T09:42:00.001-04:00

Creating a Wind Belt

2008-12-31T21:57:00.002-05:00

Incredible Pictures of Earth from Above [PICS]

2008-10-07T10:57:00.002-04:00

Photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand will bring his work to the United States for the first time in 2009. Aiming to inspire people to think globally about sustainable living, Arthus-Bertrand has been photographing unique views of our planet, seen from the sky, since 1994 - and has produced an exhibit of over 150 4-ft. by 6-ft. prints

read more | digg story

Bill Maher Votes For BBQ

2008-10-07T10:49:00.002-04:00

Bill Maher tells us what he's voting for...

read more | digg story

2008-09-09T10:49:00.000-04:00

Magnetosphere revisited (audio by Tosca) from flight404 on Vimeo.

"W"

2008-07-28T08:44:00.002-04:00

Beach Memories

2008-06-16T23:06:00.001-04:00

Chris Matthews: Media Created Delusion Hillary Can Win

2008-04-28T22:32:00.001-04:00

"This contest is essentially over," he proclaims to Keith. "Barack Obama is going to win the most elected delegates."

read more | digg story

How Hillary Can Still Win!

2008-04-23T09:06:00.005-04:00

The mainstream media has been playing up the narrative of a "close race" between Hilary and Obama for nearly two months now, even though Obama has the nomination locked up by all logical accounts! NPR's "On the Media" did a great show on this.

Winning the Peace

2008-04-14T23:01:00.006-04:00

A Monk's Awakening

Special Effects

2008-02-14T09:44:00.001-05:00

The FX Movie (A Tribute To Visual Effects) - HD version from Spinning Blade on Vimeo.

Al Gore • Rythm

2008-02-07T13:21:00.002-05:00

It was only ever going to be a 2 person Democratic Race!

2008-01-29T19:10:00.004-05:00

Just when I was getting caught up in the excitement of true democracy in America, I was confronted with the power of persuasion.

John Edwards and his policies must have scared the corporate media. They had it decided a year ago that this would be a "two person race", and John Edwards wouldn't be in it. Now its just down to the power plays between Barack Obama & Bill Clinton...

The house that John Built>

I'm flabbergasted by the subtle and incessant ploys that are necessary for politicians to get their ideas out through the mass media filter. It is the power of persuasion, and people are more than willing to vote based on their fickle feelings, rather than sound research or judgment on policy.

The media continues to play a role beyond that of objective observer reporting facts. With the current state of things, media presentation is filling up more and more of the media landscape with insider politics and gossip columns, rather than thoughtful analysis. It will only get harder to filter through all the information to the important gems that allow one to make sound judgments in a national election. What to do, what to do?!

A hopeful future for the internet

2007-12-05T09:51:00.001-05:00

Join the RED campaign

2007-12-04T13:04:00.000-05:00

John Edwards for President

2007-11-10T12:28:00.000-05:00

Microsoft's Light table

2007-06-22T10:04:00.000-04:00

Women In Art

2007-06-04T18:11:00.001-04:00

Czech Dream

2006-06-29T11:41:00.000-04:00

I just finished watching an amazing documentary that has been circuiting festivals around the world this past year. Czech Dream tells the story of how two film students fabricated the launch of a Hypermarket, along the lines of a Walmart superstore. Complete with all the glitz and intrigue of a modern advertising campaign these filmmakers drew the attraction of a few thousand people for the opening day ribbon cutting...led to an open meadow these people were forced to deal with the fact that there is no Czech Dream Supermarket!

"People follow advertising, even if there is nothing tangible to grasp" -The Czech Dream

West Wing

2006-05-26T23:07:00.000-04:00

There is a wonderful write-up that gets to my recent obsession with the West Wing. It is absolutely amazing. "An alternate universe that soothes." And what can I say other than Alan Alda! If you haven't watched any West Wing- Rent it!

Below is the post, stolen from here.

"West Wing RIP
My growing immersion in an alternate universe isn't particularly unusual. My favorite science fiction show of all time has been canceled. The West Wing is a wonderful alternate universe that soothes, reassures and uplifts.

In my alternate universe, the United States of America is run by people who share my values. They aren't perfect, indeed as a group they are flawed and human, but they are also heroic and loyal. They are witty and their conversations are literate, skewed to the left, and their compassion for the little guy is woven into every word they utter. In my alternate universe, the President of the United States can use the word nuclear without making me ashamed. He agonizes over policy that goes against his religious beliefs but would never force those beliefs down the throats of others. In this wonderful universe the president is surrounded by people who worry about the quality of our schools and the environment. They have fought to improve healthcare and raise the standard of living for every American. They don't serve the interests of big business or betray the trust of the people who put them in office. They haven't pissed off overy other country on the planet and I am not ashamed to have them represent me or speak on my behalf to the rest of the world."

The IT Crowd -- The complete first season! Works everywhere!

2006-05-14T10:44:00.000-04:00

Guys this show is brilliant. Well worth checking out if you have a minute. Check the links below to either watch all 6 episodes here directly in your browser or download them. Permalinks are included. I have included alot of info about the show. Make this your one stop to learn everything about the IT Crowd, a wonderful show. View from anywhere not just the UK!

read more | digg story

Was that Arm-istice or Arms-race?

2006-05-11T18:51:00.000-04:00

Hell yeah, let's just pump up the Russian military! Add them to the long list of countries fighting for the imaginary position of Supreme-World-Dominator. But I guess they have to prepare themselves for the onslaught of the future world powerhouse, China; and can't allow themselves to be pushed around early in the game by you know who.

Acording to Russian President Vladimir Putin,"new types of weaponry will allow us to maintain what is undoubtebly one of the most significant guarantees of world stability...the preservation of the balance of forces".

"The stronger our military is, the less temptation there will be to exert such pressure on us," Mr. Putin said.

Looks like our new Canadian government is moving in a similar direction... Perhaps with an interest in bringing peace to Darfur...but the outcome of building up arms will have the same effect it always has.

Here's a link to The Globe and Mail Article

Not Who am I, but Where am I

2006-04-26T22:35:00.000-04:00

Some may ask where am I these days, or what am I doing with myself...
In answer to such questions, I am left only to ponder where in fact have I been.

I have been sitting in cow dung searching for last nights dinner.
I have been everywhere at once, so as to dilute the present moment.
I have been fading into the oblivion only to find...
I have been learning the differences between html, xhtml and dhtml. The answer: seemingly not much. And apparently Java is a dirty language?! Even dirtier than French!
I have been lost in the code, and searching for the art in it.

I have been overwhelmed by the infinite possibilities for my life; exploring those futures that exist only in dreams.
I have been reaffirming decisions that I made long ago.
I have been transitioning. Just sitting; being still. I have been running; quickly and in all directions. I have been eating; in carefully selected and portioned bites, and shoveling large pieces of processed meats and pastas into my gullet.

I have been reading lots, and been lost reading.
I have been drinking little, smoking even less, and exercising some.
I have been moving at a relatively constant speed, forward.
Moving steadily closer, or at least in the same general direction, toward my goal.
A goal to become a futurist, rehashing the past to create a more interesting present.

NASA back to moon in 2008!

2006-04-11T11:02:00.000-04:00

For the first time since Apollo, NASA will be sending its first vehicle/probe to the moon in 2008, with an early crash landing of supplies for future missions.

I for one, will be watching!

But it looks like this round, we'll be leaving more than our footprints and a couple of golfballs: Digg Story. We're already sending up any crap we can. A year ago thousands of people sent business cards to moon: Transorbital Probe
And more than 90% of our current satellites orbiting earth are junked scrap metal. Come on guys, pick up after yourself!

*Of course there's always those who claim we never went to the moon: Conspiracy Theory

read more | digg story

Ruminations on Art

2006-04-01T13:33:00.000-05:00

Taught to me by a good friend of mine; but a lesson I'm still learning...

Art is not precious...it must be torn up and pieced back together...only then does its meaning get extracted and used, put back into the real world moments of our lives. Otherwise it is destined to exist only in the abstract mind of the artist.

Photographs are not precious...they are to be copied and distributed like pop art hung on a teenager's wall...they are to be scratched and duplicated, colored, plastered and glued; sewn, soddered and fired. Photographs must be tangibly displayed...they must extrude from the safe and clean boundaries of the picture frame, only to invade and challenge our emotional landscapes. They are meant to be reflections of our true nature; not snapshots of our perfect selves.

Images for now! Not memories captured for later.

Good Night and Good Luck

2006-03-23T20:05:00.001-05:00

"To those who say people wouldn't look; they wouldn't be interested; they're too complacent, indifferent and insulated, I can only reply: There is, in one reporter's opinion, considerable evidence against that contention. But even if they are right, what have they got to lose? Because if they are right, and this instrument is good for nothing but to entertain, amuse and insulate, then the tube is flickering now and we will soon see that the whole struggle is lost. This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box. There is a great and perhaps decisive battle to be fought against ignorance, intolerance and indifference. This weapon of television could be useful. "

-Edward R. Murrow

This quote gets to the core of my interest in film and the arts.
Anyone who hasn't seen Good Night and Good Luck yet...get out there.

There's A World of Possibilities

2006-03-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note to share an awesome radio program that I discovered on this world of wired communications we call the internet. A World of Possibilities is one of the few politically geared programs that gets it; as opposed to ranting and raving about everything that is wrong with the West, it gets working on finding solutions.
It has programmed intelligent discussions on Globalization, climate change, poverty, Katrina, the Tsunami; really all of our current and looming global problems. But as opposed to culture jamming, it is action oriented.
I've always been interested in solving problems bigger than myself; perhaps just the study of problem solving itself. It is a wonderfully complex study!

One thought provoking show is entitled Global Media and the Conversational Commons. It deals with how new forms of media (such as internet radio and podcasting) are transforming how we communicate as a global culture. With the introduction of cheap cell phones, internet radio, video and the likes of Skype, etc. we are now able to communicate globally. And I don't just mean the elite classes that could afford to travel and pay long distance phone rates...now everyone can join in the discussion! We can share in the lives and stories of other cultures. In fact A World of Possibilities often airs the stories of people living in small, troubled parts of the world that rarely get a global audience.

I still remember the day when I was in the Dublin airport, and first caught a full half-hour BBC newscast devoted to the continent of Africa. In the West, growing up, it was as if there was a media blackout for anything that wasn't internal.

Just check it out: A World of Possibilities

*I'll work on fixing that link in the side bar...right now it links to
Microsoft.com not A World of Possibilities, perhaps the root of all things evil.

Spore

2006-03-04T01:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, now I'm not really a gamer...but every once in a while I get excited by the very idea of a game. It happened when I first heard about Second Life: the online game without any actually established point of play, just an open world in which to create and explore social and environmental situations, virtually.
A place where artists have as much installation space as they want. Where they can help carve out the landscape, and turn the environment into whatever they dream.

So as the experiment played out, whole communities emerged with forms of commerce, democratic government elections, and a police force. There's even a virtual jail to banish rule breakers to. I was excited to hear that people were making a real living (read $) by actually "living" inside the game. The in game Linden dollars are currently trading on the real world markets. There are even imbedded journalists making in-world documentary films to be displayed in some of this world's first virtual film festivals! Check out this to have a taste: http://www.idealworldmovie.com/short/
Here's an introduction: Second Life

But my next gaming Oooh and Aahhh goes out to SPORE. It's taking Evolution to the gaming streets. Take that Creationists! Check out the site for a taste: http://spore.ea.com/
Or here for a demonstration: http://www.video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8372603330420559198&q=spore

Birth...

2006-03-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

Wouldn't mind heading back here for an evening!
Coffee Bay, South Africa

Watch out as this online space becomes a place to air my thoughts and let my art out of the box. Be sure to check out my new website as it goes up. Let me know what you think.